esc disappointment

[brin]

it all started a couple of weeks ago when i noticed that my low batery warning stopped working so i started searching for another esc after some recomenditions i bought a scorpion 35amp esc at the hop farm last week so this morning i sat down with my mate installed it and it seemed to be working ok but after the third time of spooling up it seemed to be starting a bit slowly and then a few sparks and one dead esc so i will be giving the guy who sold it to me a call and see if he will replace it or give me a refund so im very dissapointed that i missed a very a great day for flying

[cambs flyer]

Sorry to hear that Bro, for what ever reason probs with the 450 class seem fairly common right now, just random luck of course, as a little while back it was the BCX2's.

Once my new parts arrive I'll write my results, and with any luck an few of my findings may help someone, hopefully.

Anyway I hope you sort out your ESC problem mate, and your back up real soon.

[rspblake]

450 Heli with which motor?

We automatically choose a 55amp for the Beam, reason is for the larger BEC Amps available, I would not of suggested you go lower than a 45amp.

They are covered if its a fault with the controller.

.

[funfreex]

I have just fitted scorpion 55a to my 450 and I am now experiencing loads of glitches! Must say i am finding that somewhat disappointing also.

[chugga-bug]

you on 35megs Jamie?

[funfreex]

you on 35megs Jamie?

Sorry yes 35mhz,
2.4gig on the wish list, but didn't get this many glitches on the last esc.

[moyesboy]

Its back to relocating everything.
If you are getting nowhere I have a medusa separate BEC sat in a drawer that you could try Jamie. (you remove the + and - crimps from the throttle plug and run this direct off the lipo and into the batt connector on the rx - thus isolating the BEC power input which can be putting the noise into the rx).
The scorpion BEC is switching I think, which is why it can deliver penty of amps without gettng hot - but switching becs are noisier - most small electric helis are now on 2.4 and don't suffer the same problems.

[funfreex]

Its back to relocating everything.
If you are getting nowhere I have a medusa separate BEC sat in a drawer that you could try Jamie. (you remove the + and - crimps from the throttle plug and run this direct off the lipo and into the batt connector on the rx - thus isolating the BEC power input which can be putting the noise into the rx).
The scorpion BEC is switching I think, which is why it can deliver penty of amps without gettng hot - but switching becs are noisier - most small electric helis are now on 2.4 and don't suffer the same problems.

THanks for that Gordon, but Did you mention the madusa is bigger in size than the scorpion? If so it will not fit into my heli as the scorpion only just does.

[moyesboy]

Jamie, you missunderstand.
I refer to a medusa BEC (not a medusa motor). Medusa make lots of things.
The BEC is normally inside the ESC and cuts the 11.1v down to 5v (or 6v) to run the receiver - and supplies the receiver via the black and red wire on the throttle servo plug.
This is a medusa BEC which you could use to take over the power supply from the ESC BEC and provide a cleaner less noisy power to the receiver.
Before he swapped to 2.4Ghz, the medusa BEC was highly recommended by Ashley Davis at www.trextuning.com.
Recievers are not just susceptable to RF noise going in through the antenna, but noise can also get in down the power line, and also down the servo lines. With 35Mhz the noise frequencies are all a bit close to the reciever operating frequency (unlike 2.4Ghz).

Something else you can try for a test is to take the black and red wire crimps out of the ESC throttle plug, tape them back - and plug a std AAA nicad pack from your glider in to the power connector on the RX. Strap that on and fly it and if the glitches are gone then its noise on the supply line into the rx that is your problem.

You were getting some cutting out with your ACE40A. The throttle will close if the receiver can't get a meaningful signal, so maybe there is onboard noise. If it started doing that when before it was OK it can be mechanical Rf noise coming from a rough bearing. Usually the worst culprit for that is the top main shaft bearing which gets a hammering in crashes, but any loose screws etc can have the same effect (again 2.4 is less susceptable).
I gave up with the 35Mhz when, after it had performed flawlessly for ages (7CAP with 146iPCM), I got motor shut downs and lock outs. When I fitted my 2.4 gear I also rebuilt it and found a completely shot top main shaft bearing that may well have been the source of the issues.

My problems wirth the ACE ESC were a bit different. I was getting a shut down of the ESC without any control issues. It seems this was entirely becuase of a development of my flying style loading it more and I could reproduce it at will by hammering the collective and getting the thing to overheat. I am doing less fast forward and it is getting less time to cool!

The scorpion HK2221-8 and 55A ESC combination is working really well for me so far.

[Smoothound]

Also if you've crashed it recently don't discount the fact that it could be a dodgy bearing, particularly a main. I know this for a fact as it took me weeks of glitches to suss it out on my 450 a while ago

[funfreex]

Jamie, you missunderstand.
I refer to a medusa BEC (not a medusa motor). Medusa make lots of things.
The BEC is normally inside the ESC and cuts the 11.1v down to 5v (or 6v) to run the receiver - and supplies the receiver via the black and red wire on the throttle servo plug.
far.

Ah I now understand. ok it would be great if I could give the bec a go, if it works then problem solved, if not its something else that can be ruled out.
No crashes recently but I am going to give the head a strip down and check all bearings.

[brin]

450 Heli with which motor?

We automatically choose a 55amp for the Beam, reason is for the larger BEC Amps available, I would not of suggested you go lower than a 45amp.

They are covered if its a fault with the controller.

.

the motor came with the package it is an align 430x 3550kv with an align esc rce-bl35x but I didnt use the on board bec I used a hi model ubec-3amp
the scorpion commander was recommended by some reliable sources so i dont understand why it should have shorted out all i did was spool up a few times but then it started to turn very slowly so i pulled back throttle tried again it went very slow and somthing flashed and that was that no more esc

[Smoothound]

If your original ESC was playing up are you positive your motor is OK?

If your motor isn't then it could easily fry a new ESC which would not be the ESC's fault

[brin]

If your original ESC was playing up are you positive your motor is OK?

If your motor isn't then it could easily fry a new ESC which would not be the ESC's fault

i am pretty sure the motor is ok but i wouldnt bet on it ,I was getting good head speed and the only problems i had were the low bat warning and the soft start didnt work i asumed this was the esc thats why i changed it

[Smoothound]

I'd just check it to be sure as it could easily be the motor!